Kayaking in Halong bay

Kayaking in Halong bay

Kayaking in Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site gives a perfect opportunity to explore the stunning beauty of this fascinating seascape. Paddle through islets floating fishing villages, unspoiled beaches, lagoons and visit hidden caves. The compact kayak is able to go to places the big boats can’t reach. Most of the day-trips or overnight cruises in Halong Bay include a kayaking trip. Beyond visiting famous caves, climbing or swimming, paddling out on the emerald waters on a kayak gets you a lot closer to the limestone formations.

A day-trip or overnight cruise in Halong Bay makes it really easy to try kayaking for the first time. A kayaking trip not only gives the chance to get on the water, but also to discover more about the local region. Many of the cliff-lined inland lagoons and caves are too difficult to access by a full-size boat.

There are several popular atmospheric caves to visit, such as the unique Luon Cave, the well-named Amazing Cave, and the Dark & Light Cave. Plus, there are plenty of attractive sites to go kayaking in the Halong Bay area, including Lan Ha Bay, Ti Top Island and Cat Ba Island, as well a long list of other less-visited destinations.

A kayaking trip to Halong Bay on the Vietnam holiday makes it possible to visit the long dark sea caves and complicated rock gardens. Plus, the knowledgeable tour guide trained in cave kayaking can give interesting facts on the local wildlife, coral garden, and stalactites and stalagmites.

The ability to paddling inside the caves will depend on their size. For the large or long-range caves, there is the option to self paddle, but this isn’t always possible in the small caves where the guides are likely to paddle the kayaks. The preferred type of kayak for the cave tours is the ultra-tough inflatables. Also, it is important to paddle silent and smooth to minimize the risk of disturbing the colonies of bats.

Beyond the bat colonies, other things to look out for while paddling include fish, reptiles, primates and birds, as well as a close up view of the coral. The best time for the wildlife sightings is at sunrise and sunset, but this type of activity cannot be guaranteed.

Kayaking is seen as a relatively safe activity while exploring the calm waters of Halong Bay – although there are certain areas that are more difficult for paddling. These areas will either have warnings in place or you can use a tour guide to help stay within the safe areas. The mild winds and calm waters in the region are perfect time to explore Halong Bay for the first-time kayakers. Plus, the tour guide will give instruction on how to paddle the kayak.

It also helps to pack appropriate clothing for the Vietnam travel when planning the paddling adventure. T-shirt, shorts, swimming suit is great for the summer, while warmer clothes are needed for the winter. Other supplies to take along include insect repellent, dry bags for camera or similar items, sun cream, bottled water, sunglasses, hats, etc.